Cancer Council aims to rekindle sex spark

Sex after cancer can be a daunting prospect but the Cancer Council of Queensland hopes to help survivors rekindle that spark.

In what the CCQ claimed was a world first, cancer patients with concerns about their love life could access a new website, Rekindle, which offered advice, information and the chance to help others through research participation.

Prostate cancer survivor Euan Perry knew there were risks to his sex life associated with his treatment.Credit:Bradley Kanaris

CCQ spokeswoman Katie Clift said Rekindle was developed after studies showed more than half of cancer survivors had concerns about sex following their treatment.

Those concerns ranged from the functionality of sex to issues of confidence associated with invasive, body-altering procedures.

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Sexual dysfunction in women is not merely a question of a chemical hormone deficiency but is often also a sign of a lack of communication with a partner and an expression of everyday stress.Credit:iStock

Research undertaken by CCQ found about 62 per cent of cancer patients experienced a range of sexual issues as a result of their sickness and/or treatment and about 30 per cent did not seek support.

"The resource helps cancer survivors to have a fulfilling sex life after cancer," Ms Clift said.

"Rekindle provides bedroom activities to help survivors regain their spark and overcome sexual concerns that may result from cancer treatment.

"Anyone involved has the opportunity to confidentially and anonymously provide feedback on Rekindle to contribute to research and improve the resource.

"Rekindle is designed to be used in private settings, mindful of individual needs and sensitive to the desire for intimacy."

A disruption to sex life was what Euan Perry, 68, faced almost six years ago when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer almost six years ago.

Mr Perry said every treatment for prostate cancer had an immediate and direct impact on sexual function.

"I was a high risk, so the first thing they put me on was hormone therapy and that takes away a man's testosterone – not quite all of it, but almost all of it," he said.

"That has an immediate effect. You lose your erections and also your libido – we need testosterone to keep things going for sure.

"Then after a few months, I had radiation that can directly affect the nerves on the surface of the prostate.

"They're always affected, be it from surgery or whatever, but as long as they're intact they can always recover.

"Mine weren't too badly affected with the treatment I had."

But Mr Perry, who had made a full recovery without the feared long-term effects, said his main concern when he was diagnosed was survival, not sex.

"When you've been married 50 years, the sex thing isn't quite as important as when you're a bit younger," he said.

"(Sex) wasn't a huge thing. It is for some men, especially young men, but it wasn't for me.

Ms Clift said, in addition to the website, support was available for cancer survivors affected by sexual or relational concerns.